Random ramblings from the cluttered brain of a Brit ex-pat North Devonian trying to keep cool in the steamy summers and warm in the frosty winters of The Great White North.

Sunday, 24 June 2007

Y is for York Durham Heritage Railway

Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo-choo? No, actually it's the York Durham Heritage Railway!

The York Durham Heritage Railway opened for business on September 14 1996 and runs between Uxbridge and Stouffville on an old CNR track, and has been running on summer weekends since then. The opening ceremonies were held on the 125th anniversary of the grand opening of the Toronto and Nipissing Railway in 1871. The Uxbridge Railway Station was built in 1904 and is one of the few remaining "Witches Hat" stations in Ontario.

Caboose (Van) #434908 Built by Canadian Pacific Railway in 1953, used in regular service on YDHR.

Rules Car #15041. This car contains a classroom for instructing railway personnel on the correct & safe methods of operating a railway. And originally contained living quarters for the travelling instructor. This coach was built for Canadian National Railways by Canadian Car & Foundry in 1930 as a Solarium and Lounge coach. Each time C.N.R. modified this car they moved walls and blanked out windows.

Uxbridge there looks prettier than Uxbridge over here, at first I could not remember a train going from Uxbridge up to York but then I remembered that you are there and I am here and I like to eat ham with ginger beer.

Hi,I am a real old railways freak but I confess Steam is my real love.We go on any old Steam trains we can manage to get to.Here in Teignmouth we are on the main line to Plymouth so a few times a year steam trains do a London to Plymouth run As long as the weather is'nt to dry (fire risk).I Love to see your photo's of the old trains and the well preserved station, keep up the good work.

Hello from Lorenzo.Lovely photos. I love train journeys too. Yesterday I went by train from Pwllheli in North Wales along the edge of Cardigan Bay, and then turned inland for Shrewsbury, where I changed trains to bring me home. It was the nices railway trip I have ever done, with stunning views over the sea.

I thought to start with you were talking about The Natiional Railway Museum -in York ... and then you mentioned Uxbridge... I got all confused. It looks very interesting and fun. I can not believe that you are at "Y" already. Where does time fly! However I have been a bad blogger lately, thank you for staying with me. I was interested to read about your ancestors in Wortley I am not that familiar with that part of the city. However, I live in a terraced area of the city, probably very smilar to one your ancestors lived in. My Great Grandad worked in a factory somewhere in the city making all the drainage covers and other iron products. They might have met! What a strange thought that is. YOu should see the amount of rain we have had today! OI!!! I have come home to find my living room floor covered in water, my walls soaked through and am now trying to wrestle with insurance comapanies....I be you do not miss the ENglish Rain.

Yes we had rain but not as bad as the north. Did you see the mud at Glastonbury? On Sunday afternoon we went to food shop at Sainsbury's at Street and the carpark was full of muddy cars and wellie-boots - everyone shopping on their way home after the gig!

This post reminds me of another heritage railway here in India in Darjeeling of the Toy Train run by the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. It runs upto 7000 feet above sea level.Some very well captured shots & it was nice to know about the DHR, which co-incidentally also stands for the one I mentioned.

About Me

Enjoying life! I'm well over the halfway mark so I'm not wasting any time grumbling. Empty nest Mum to two young men who are embarking on life's journey, and doing it with style, confidence and enthusiasm, accompanied by their lovely wives. And now I'm Nana to three gorgeous little boys and a beautiful little girl. Lucky me!